EVICTION PREVENTION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE

FOR ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY RENTERS AT HIGHEST RISK OF EVICTION

(Effective November 1, 2024, subject to change as resources and circumstances require.)

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Anne Arundel County Eviction Prevention Program administered by ACDS is not a long term rental assistance program. The Program provides limited eviction prevention funds to prevent the eviction of eligible low income individuals and families who have experienced an unexpected financial hardship that has prevented their ability to pay rent and put them at risk of imminent eviction and homelessness. The Program is intended to ensure that one financial crisis does not result in the eviction of individuals and families who, without assistance, would become homeless if evicted. This Program does not provide ongoing rental assistance to supplement the incomes of households that have inadequate income to sustain their monthly rent. Individuals and families who are not eligible for this Program and are either homeless or about to be homeless may contact the Anne Arundel County 24/7 Community Warmline at 410-768-5522.

TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION FOR RENTERS AT RISK OF EVICTION

EVICTION PREVENTION FUNDING IS NOT GUARANTEED TO PREVENT EVICTION: Even if you are eligible for Eviction Prevention funds, this Program may not be able to prevent your eviction. Timing sometimes works against us, landlords don’t always participate in the Program or cooperate in a timely manner, and other factors can result in an eviction date occurring before an Eviction Prevention payment can be made.Therefore, all applicants are strongly encouraged to look for other resources while waiting for their application to be processed and to pay the amount of rent needed to “pay and stay” in their housing if possible.

SEARCH FOR OTHER RESOURCES IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ACDS FUNDING IN THE PAST 15 MONTHS: If you have received emergency rental assistance within the past 15 months, you are not eligible for additional assistance.

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

If the Sheriff has scheduled your eviction or your landlord has obtained a Warrant of Restitution (the document signed by a judge that allows your eviction) following a Failure to Pay Rent case, you may be eligible to apply for Eviction Prevention Funds.

Requirements to be eligible to apply for Eviction Prevention Funds:

1. Applicant cannot have received emergency rental assistance or eviction prevention funds through the ACDS Eviction Prevention Program within the past 15 months. If you have received assistance in the past and are unsure of how long ago you received that assistance, ACDS staff can confirm the timing of any prior assistance you may have received.
   
2. Applicant must be scheduled by the Sheriff for eviction or there must be an active Warrant for Possession (Writ of Restitution) issued within the past 60 days that would allow the Sheriff to evict.
   
3. Applicant’s rental property must be located in Anne Arundel County.
4. Applicant must be an Anne Arundel County resident who has experienced a documented financial hardship out of the applicant’s control which has caused their inability to pay rent. Documentation of a financial hardship out of the applicant’s control may include but is not limited to proof of a history of making regular monthly rental payments prior to the financial hardship, lay off notice, accident report, medical reports (subject to applicable HIPAA limitations), etc.
5. Applicant’s total household income must be at or below 50% of Adjusted Median Income (“AMI”) for Anne Arundel County, and the household must have no other resources which could be used to pay the past due rent. Documentation of income and resources is required.
6. ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY DOES NOT GUARANTEE ELIGIBILITY FOR EVICTION PREVENTION FUNDS. See additional information regarding limits on financial assistance and important program policies below.

LIMITS ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND IMPORTANT PROGRAM POLICIES

1. Eviction Prevention funds will be paid on behalf of an applicant household only if the payment will prevent eviction of the household. If Eviction Prevention Program Funds would not prevent eviction due to limits on the amount allowed or for any other reason, then the household is ineligible for assistance.
2. The maximum payment allowed is the amount needed to prevent eviction (as stated on the warrant of restitution) or $5,000, whichever is lower.
3. If the maximum allowable payment is not enough to prevent eviction, then no Eviction Prevention funds will be paid unless the applicant household first provides documentation confirming that payment to the landlord in the additional amount needed to prevent eviction has been paid in full.

HOW TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE

If you meet the requirements to apply noted above, send an email to ACDS at evictionprevention@acdsinc.org, including the following information and documentation:

1. The renter’s name should be noted in the Subject Line. Include the eviction date in the Subject Line if an eviction is scheduled.
2. Include the following information regarding the renter:
   • Name
   • Address
   • Phone number
   • Email address (email must be sent from the tenant’s email address – this is where the response will be sent)

• Attach the following required documents:
  • Warrant of Restitution/Warrant for Possession
  • Copy of Judgment for Possession upon which the Warrant of Restitution was issued
  • Notice of Eviction Date from the Sheriff (if eviction is scheduled)

We understand requests for assistance are time-sensitive, especially when eviction is imminent. We do our very best to respond to all emails from tenants at risk of imminent eviction as quickly as possible. At the latest, staff from the Eviction Prevention Program will respond to each email within two business days (excluding weekends). In many instances, response time will be shorter.

ASSISTANCE IS NOT GUARANTEED: Even if a tenant is facing imminent eviction, eviction prevention assistance is dependent upon confirmation of the renter household’s eligibility for the Eviction Prevention Program.  Assistance is also subject to funding availability, limits on the maximum amount of assistance, limits on the number of months of assistance allowed and any other programmatic limitations on payments.

ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE ACDS EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM

NO PAYMENTS FOR PAST DUE UTILITIES UNLESS INCLUDED IN THE RENT: For information regarding assistance with past due utility bills, click here: https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/how-do-you-apply/

NOT A LONG TERM FINANCIAL RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: The Eviction Prevention Program is not a long term rental assistance program. The Program provides eviction prevention assistance for eligible renters who have experienced an unexpected financial hardship which is/was out of the renter’s control and is intended to help households overcome an unexpected shortage of funds for rent.

NO PAYMENT TO PRIOR LANDLORDS: The Eviction Prevention Program does not pay past due rent for tenants who have already been evicted, who have already vacated their unit, or whose landlord intends to evict soon after the payment would be made. Eviction Prevention funds are used only to prevent evictions.

POLICIES REGARDING LANDLORD-TENANT FAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• Applicants whose landlord is a family member of any person in the tenant’s household will be eligible for assistance only if:
  • there is a valid written lease between the parties which predates the application for assistance;
  • there is a documented history of rental payments made by the tenant corresponding with documented receipt of payments received by the landlord (bank statements required from both landlord and tenant);
  • and, there is proof that the landlord has operated the rental agreement between the parties as a business, including proof of reporting the rent as income for tax purposes.
  • Additional documentation may be required depending on circumstances.
• Applicants who reside in the same household as their family member landlord are not eligible for assistance.

PROSPECTIVE RENT: The Eviction Prevention Program does not provide financial assistance to cover future rent. Payments are limited to the amount stated on the warrant of restitution required to “pay and stay.” 

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE!  We understand this is a stressful time, and we are working hard to get to everyone as quickly as possible.

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Do You Have a Court Date Related to Past Due Rent or a Notice of Eviction?

Legal Assistance is Available!

Community Legal Services provides FREE LEGAL ADVICE and representation for tenants who have been sued for eviction for rent-related reasons. If you receive the yellow court notice titled “Landlord’s Complaint for Failure to Pay Rent,” contact Community Legal Services. CLS can provide advice and/or representation for you so that you have support through the court process. You will find them in the court house daily during Failure to Pay Rent hearings, but they prefer to hear from you in advance. Para asistencia legal: CLS Info en español.

• If you receive any notices from the sheriff with a date for scheduled eviction, notify ACDS at evictionprevention@acdsinc.org and contact Community Legal Services immediately at (240) 391-6370, ext. 5. You can also complete an online intake for legal services at: https://www.legal-trak.com/CaseManagement/OnlineInTake/OnlineInTake/3?skipPayment=true.
• If you have already applied for rental assistance, make sure all your supporting documents have been submitted so your application can be processed quickly and smoothly.

Para asistencia de ACDS en Espanol por favor llame al 410-222-7600 y selecione la opcion “3”